Pumpkin carving 101

How to cut, scoop and carve a pumpkin into a world-class Halloween masterpiece.

Last night was pumpkin-carving night at my house. Out came the carving supplies, and down we sat to create our masterpieces. Back in the day (you know, a million years ago when I was a kid) it seemed like you were creative if you carved circles instead of triangles for your jack-o'-lantern's eyes. But today the sky is the limit when it comes to pumpkin carving designs.

Don't let all of these new designs scare you. Fortunately, there are free templates galore on the Internet for everything from apples to zebras and anything in between. All you have to do is print, trace and carve. Here's how to turn your plain old pumpkin into this year's Halloween masterpiece:

Gather supplies: To get started, you'll need a pumpkin (obvious, I know) and your carving supplies. A large spoon or ice-cream scoop, a thin-bladed knife and some newspaper will work fine. We bought one of those $2 kits about five years ago and are constantly amazed that it still works. Next, pick out your design. If you'll be using a template from a kit or the Internet, print it out now so it's ready to go.

Cut and scoop: With your thin-bladed knife, cut out a circle at the top of the pumpkin around the stem. Make the hole large enough to allow you to scoop out the guts, seeds and stringy membrane of the pumpkin with your large spoon or scoop.

Carve: If you've got a freehand design in mind, your pumpkin is all set to carve away. If you're using a template, place it where you want it on the pumpkin and fasten it with tape. Use a small knife or transfer tool to trace the design, poking small holes along the design. For complicated designs, make sure these holes are close together. These will be your guidelines for carving. Next, use your thin-bladed knife to carve along the lines and create your design.

Light it up: Once your pumpkin is carved, you can trim up the edges and clean out any pieces that may have fallen in your pumpkin. Your jack-o'-lantern should be ready for display. For added effect, place a small candle inside to bring your design to life.

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.